Legacy

Last week was Legacy, a mininstry for all women in our church.  It is "a place to provide a gathering where intentional intergenerational fellowship combined with spiritual encouragement and challenge can take place."  Three of them were planned for this church year.

It began to snow and snow and snow.  It was debated whether to cancel or not.   They decided to go ahead with it.

Several women who had registered, decided that it was too risky to drive.  But the speaker, Malinda Just, who was from Hillsboro (30 miles away) came!  She said it was pretty treacherous.  She was worried about some of her friends who would also be coming, but they made it safely!

Marilyn and her granddaughter, Lillian, played music while guests arrived.  It was beautiful!

 Jess and Courtney welcomed everyone.

There were 2 kinds of soup, cornbread and also delicious cupcakes for dessert.

I had been asked to share my story.  One's story can go in so many angles.  Growing up in Japan, how I moved to Newton, adoption....

When first asked, I wasn't sure which way to go, but when Courtney also asked if I would do an origami craft of a bird, I knew!  I incorporated my bird watching with Christ's love for sparrows.  

Who would care about a little brown drab bird if there are beautiful, colorful birds around.  Yet, the Gospel is upside-down.  God LOVES the ones no one cares about.  The world worships the beautiful, the successful, but God looks upon the hurting, those who feel worthless or don't fit in.

Several have told me they were disappointed that they could not come to hear, so if you are one of those and want to take the time to listen, here it is!

I had asked Laurel if she could sing "God Sees the Little Sparrow Fall" or "His Eye is on the Sparrow."  Well, her mother and Marilyn helped her put the 2 songs into one!!  You can hear her on the track around 28:20 on the above video.  She has the most melodic voice!!  Like a songbird!!

Why should I feel discouraged?

Why should the shadows fall?

Why should my heart be lonely,

And long for Heav'n  and home?

When Jesus is my portion,

My constant friend is He,

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me!

His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches me!

     God sees the little sparrow fall

     It meets His tender view.

     If God so loved the little birds,

     I know He loves me, too!

     He loves me too.

     He loves me too.

     I know He loves me too.

For His eye is on the Sparrow

And I know He loves me, too.

     I sing because I'm happy.

     I sing because I'm free.

     For His eye is on the sparrow.

     And I know He loves me too.

He loves me too

He loves me too

I know He loves me too

For His eye is on the Sparrow

And I know He loves me too.

If you want to see the little origami lesson faster than trying to follow me teaching a room full of women (ha!!), look here:  (I was going to have my friend who is an artist, Kaori, teach it but the roads were too icy for her to come from out of town.  Luckily, I did have the video!  But I wish Kaori could have come!!)

They are so sweet!  

Malinda Just shared about Foundations.  Excellent!  If you enjoy home renovation shows, this will get your attention!

Laurel ended the evening leading us with the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus."

O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn you eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Earlier that day, I had been ironing and listening to my son-in-law preach the sermon from the Sunday before.  And guess what?  He also talked about Foundations!  (I guess God wanted my attention?)   It was so good!  About building on the rock, not on the sand.  Not on the "Wadis" in Israel that can have flash floods.  He showed a flash flood video from his trip with my husband in Israel.   Go in 35 minutes to hear this.